For the Leuven University Symphony Orchestra, this academic year is a celebration year. They are celebrating not one but two anniversaries. The orchestra has been in existence for no less than 60 years. In addition, they are celebrating their silver anniversary with conductor Edmond Saverniers.
Yesterday, on Thursday, November 10, the kick-off of their celebration year took place. With the program From the New World, the USO under the direction of Edmond Saverniers managed to charm the audience. Appropriately, this festive event took place in a hall named after the founder of the orchestra: the Aula Pieter De Somer. It was an evening full of romantic music and cheering students.
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The members of the orchestra took their places on the stage to loud and enthusiastic applause from the audience, family, and fellow students. Many of them were not frequent listeners of classical music, but the USO gave them a taste of what the symphonic repertoire has in store. It was indeed a pleasant surprise that the USO opened the evening with a lesser-known work. They kicked off with music by Édouard Lalo (1823—1892), the overture from the opera Le Roi d'Ys (1888). On a bed of romantic strings, the delicate melody of Margared, the king's daughter, sounds, played by the clarinet. Then a turbulent and chaotic passage reflects the drama that will unfold in the opera, ultimately leading to a dynamic climax.
For the second work of the evening, the USO was accompanied by Tom De Beuckelaer. This young pianist, who was crowned "Young Steinway Artist" last year, managed to do more than just charm the audience with his interpretation of the 3rd Piano Concerto by Sergej Rachmaninov (1873—1943). His virtuosic piano playing was rewarded after the performance by loud cheers and applause from the audience.
After a short break, the members of the USO returned to the stage for the final work of the program. They closed the evening with the 9th Symphony "From the New World", Op. 95 (1893) by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904). Between the first and second movements, conductor Edmond Saverniers reminded everyone once more that a cell phone has an airplane mode after a phone alarm went off in the hall. But this mishap did not deter the USO. Josefien Branson was able to voice the solo for the cor anglais intimately. They also performed the scherzo with great enthusiasm while the two bassoonists happily swayed along. After the final movement, which starts in minor and ends in major, applause burst forth in the hall once again. Then followed — as tradition apparently dictates — two encores that the audience certainly appreciated.
WHAT: From the New World — tour concerts 2022
WHO: University Symphony Orchestra conducted by Edmond Saverniers
WHERE: Aula Pieter De Somer, Leuven
WHEN: November 10, 2022
the USO performs this program again on November 11, 2022
© Malou Van den Heuvel © Malou Van den Heuvel © Malou Van den Heuvel © Malou Van den Heuvel © Malou Van den Heuvel © Malou Van den Heuvel
